When the dust settles from this fall's election season, Oakland residents could have a reconstituted City Council with no member having served more than a single term in office.

Considering the entrenched positions held by some current and former elected officials of the recent past, that's a good thing.

Half of Oakland's eight-person council has been elected to office since the November 2010 election.

Earlier this week, Councilman Larry Reid told the Oakland Tribune that he was considering retirement for health reasons. He is expected to make a decision this month, time enough to put his council seat on the November ballot and endorse his daughter Treva Reid as his replacement.

Reached by phone, the senior Reid, who has held the post since 1997, declined to comment or confirm the news. In another sign that change may be afoot, Ray Leon, Reid's aide and right-hand man of 18 years, said on his Facebook page that he is taking a three-month leave of absence from this job and considering a decision to leave city employment.

Reid's daughter Treva on Wednesday confirmed her interest in running for her father's seat should he leave office. She said she knew nothing of his plans.

If Reid leaves, he will join District Two Councilwoman Pat Kernighan, who is not seeking re-election. Former TV news anchor Dana King, who moved to Oakland last year, is among a field of five candidates seeking to replace her.

In addition, two council members, Libby Schaaf and Rebecca Kaplan, are mayoral candidates. Schaaf's council seat is up for re-election in November. Kaplan, however, could remain on the council until at least 2016 if she lost the mayor's race.

That would leave Desley Brooks as the senior member of the council, should she prevail in her re-election campaign against two opponents. She was elected in 2002.

While the idea of a relatively inexperienced council might raise concerns in some cities, in Oakland it should be regarded as a timely changing of the guard. Oakland is in the throes of rapid economic growth because of market demand for housing, commercial and retail space of all kinds.

The city has benefited from soaring housing and commercial lease costs in San Francisco, which have sent businesses and hopeful home buyers across the bay.

But Oakland's recent successes haven't happened because of smart public policies and leadership. Rather, they occurred despite the absence of such benefits. As a Bay Area city, Oakland is gaining ground and compelling change in all aspects of life - and local government must be able to keep pace.

The wide field of candidates running for office in Oakland is a breath of fresh air after an era in which council seats seemed locked in the hands of incumbents until they decided it was time to go.